bilingual etiquette?

[Earthmama]

I spotted a new mommy nursing at the mall yesterday & wanted to invite her to our site. So I approached her & wrote the name down for her.

But I don't know if she'll be by. When I approached her, she was speaking Spanish with her friend & friend's SO.

As I spoke to her, they all smiled wide, friendly smiles, but didn't speak a word.

Now, IMO, that can mean that they don't speak enough English to respond the way they would otherwise. I didn't want to ask, though, if they understood me because I don't want to insult anyone.

But if they don't understand me, and were to express that, I can speak enough Spanish to try the conversation that way, instead.

(Of course this site is in English, so if she couldn't understand me, the invitation might be useless, anyway.)

But WWYD? Is it rude to talk to them in Spanish without them asking (they probably don't expect that option) or ask if they understand me?

[JulieBaby]

Try speaking in Spanish, most people do appreciate the gesture.

[babymakes4]

I don't know spanish, so my only option would be to ask them if they speak english. I don't think it's rude at all to ask that question if they are clearly speaking to eachother in another language. Not everyone speaks spanish.

[JudyJudyJudy]

It's not rude at all for you to speak to them in Spanish. Since my Spanish is so poor, though, I usually ask if they understand English before I make my attempt at Spanish.

[Drama]

I have to speak Spanish alot and if Im not sure I just ask, "English?" with a smile. Works like a charm.

[frannie]

Since you speak a little spanish and you heard them speaking it you could have started with a "como estas" and said that you know a little spanish (in spanish). Im sure she would have said if she could speak english or not.